Through its commitment to education and long-term impact, the Employee Ownership Foundation (EOF) created the Trustee Scholars Program to support the next generation of leaders connected to employee-owned companies. The program provides meaningful financial assistance—up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years—to students pursuing undergraduate or vocational education.
Open to employee owners and their dependents at ESOP companies that are members of The ESOP Association, the scholarship recognizes not only academic achievement, but also leadership, perseverance, and a commitment to future impact. The Trustee Scholars program reflects a core principle of employee ownership: that its benefits extend beyond the workplace, creating opportunities for families and future generations. Learn more at EOF Trustee Scholars | Employee Ownership Foundation
This year’s scholars embody those values in powerful and inspiring ways.
Allison Grooms
Allison Grooms enters her senior year at Wisconsin Lutheran College, where she studies biology with a minor in neuroscience. Driven by a passion for medicine and working with people, she plans to become a Physician Assistant, with a focus on delivering meaningful, patient-centered care and improving outcomes for those she serves.
Allison’s connection to employee ownership comes through her father, Paul, an employee owner at Paper Machinery Corporation, a 100 percent ESOP based in Milwaukee. Her achievements reflect both strong academic commitment and a dedication to service—highlighting how employee ownership helps create pathways for students to pursue impactful, people-centered careers.
Ailia Westgate
Ailia Westgate, a graduating senior from Mascoma Valley Regional High School in New Hampshire, has distinguished herself with a 4.0 GPA and an inspiring story of perseverance and achievement. This fall, she will attend Mount Holyoke College to study neuroscience, building on her strong academic foundation and commitment to continued growth.
Ailia aspires to become a speech pathologist, with a focus on helping individuals communicate and thrive through compassionate, specialized care. Her father, Matthew, is an employee owner at Hypertherm Associates in Hanover, New Hampshire, and her accomplishments reflect the broader impact of employee ownership in supporting educational opportunity and future success.
Together, Allison Grooms and Ailia Westgate represent the promise of the Trustee Scholars Program—demonstrating how employee ownership invests in people, empowers families, and builds a stronger future.
